Exam 1 Chapter 4 (Cells) Flashcards
When and by whom were cells discovered?
Robert Hooke in 1665
Which two people studied cells and came up with cell theory?
Mathias Schleiden (1838) and Theodor Schwann (1839).
What is the cell theory?
A cell is the smallest living unit of all living organisms. All living things are composed of one or more cells. Cells arise only by division of a previously existing cell.
What are the two types of microscopes?
Light and electron microscopes
Light: Uses magnifying lenses with visible light and resolves up to 200 nm; because the wavelength of light is larger than that of electrons, resolution is limited since resolution of a microscope cannot be more than 1/2 of the wavelength of light
Electron: uses beam of electrons and can resolve up to 0.2 nanometers apart
Give some examples of cells
Bacterium (1 micrometer), archaean, amoeba (100 um), algae, fungal cells, animal cells (10 um), plant cells
What are the two types of electron microscopy?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (2D) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (3D).
Bright Field Microscopy
Light passes directly through the specimen, staining with a dye increases contrast in a specimen since many cell structures have insufficient contrast to be discerned. However, dyeing usually kills the cells (20 micrometers)
Fluorescence microscopy
Different molecules in cells stained with specific fluorescent dyes, which fluoresce when illuminated with UV light, and locations are seen by viewing the emitted visible light (10 um)
Triple labeled fluorescent microscopy
Three different fluorescent dyes are used simultaneously to label different structures (20 um)
Nomarski
Special lenses enhance differences in density, giving a 3D appearance
Confocal laser scanning microscopy
Lasers scan specimen in 3D, localizing fluorescence emitted from each point, and a computer reconstructs 3D image (10 um)
Super-resolution fluorescent microscopy
Precisely targeting laser light that stimulates fluorescence produces v high resolution. 10 nm
TEM
Beam of electrons is focused on a thin section of a specimen in a vacuum. Electrons that pass through form the image, structures that scatter electrons appear dark. TEM is used primarily to examine structures within cells. Various staining and fixing methods are used to highlight structures of interest. 500 nm
Scanning electron microscopy
A beam of electrons is scanned actoss a whole cell or organism, and the electrons excited on the specimen surface are converted to a 3D image. In the image, small raised dots are proteins in a cell membrane
Unit conversions of a meter
1 m= 10^2 cm, 10^3 mm, 10^6 micrometers, 10^9 nanometers
Up to what point can the human eye see?
1 mm- frog egg/fish egg
Light microscope range
1 mm-1 micrometer; human egg, plant cell, animal cell, mitochondrion, e coli
Electron microscope range
100 micrometers to 0.1 nanometers- large virus, ribosome, cell membrane thickness, dna diameter, h atom
Why is it beneficial for cells to be so microscopic?
higher surface area to volume ratio means there is enough surface area to accomodate all of the exchange needs for the cell’s volume. As diameter increases, ratio also decreases, meaning insufficient surface area is present
How do cells increase surface area?
Via extensions or folds
Describe the plasma membrane of a cell
Phospholipid bilayer with embedded protein molecules. It is hydrophobicbarrier to water-soluble substances, but selected substances can enter through transport protein channels
What are the components of the cytoplasm?
The cytosol (aqueous, contains ions, organic molecules, and organelles), and the cytoskeleton (maintains cell shape and aids in cell division and chromosome segregation)
What are prokaryotes?
Cells with no boundary membranes or internal membranes (bacteria and archaea)
What are eukaryotes?
Cells with an endomembrane system consisting of membrane bound organelles and a nucleus separated from cytosol
Glycocalyx
Polysaccharide-based cell wall in prokaryotes; if it is closely attached, it is a capsule and if it is loosely attached, it is a slime layer
What is special about the plasma membrane of the prokaryote?
It carries out a lot of the functions that organelles in eukaryotes do; for example it contains molecular systems that metabolize food molecules or light into ATP
What do prokaryotic cytoskeletons do?
Maintain cell shape and function in cell division?
Describe flagella
A long extension off of the cell membrane that rotates in a socket to facilitate movement
What are pili?
Small, hairlike extensions that attach the cell to other surfaces and other cells. A sex pilus joins bacteria during mating
What are the common shapes among prokaryotes?
Spherical, rodlike, and spiral
What is the DNA like for most prokaryotes?
Organized into a single circular molecule called the prokaryotic chromosome
How are proteins synthesized in prokaryotes?
Information from DNA is copied into mRNA and carried to ribosomes in cytoplasm, which assemble amino acids into proteins
What structures are present in animal cells but not plant cells?
Centrosomes with centrioles (roles in cell division)
Lysosomes (digestion)
Cilia (hairlike projections involved in locomotion)
Describe the process of cell fractionation
- Whole cells
- Whole cells broken down into fragments
- Fragments centrifuged at 500 g, which pellets nuclei
- Supernatant is taken and centrifuged at 20,000 g, which pellets mitochondria and chloroplasts
- Supernatant is taken again and centrifuged at 150,000 g, pelleting ribosomes, proteins, and nucleic acids
Present in plant but not animal cells
Cell wall (with plamodesmata)
Chloroplasts
Central vacuole
What is the nucleolus?
A region where ribosomal RNA is synthesized and ribosomal subunits are formed then exit through nuclar pores
How many nuclei in an eukaryotic cell?
1
How many bilayers and leaflets in nucleus?
2 bilayers and 4 leaflets
What is the protein that reinforces the nuclear envelope?
Lamins-intermediatefilament
What do nuclear pores do?
Control and regulate passage of molecules in and out
What is the structure of chromosomes in eukaryotes?
Linear; organized with its proteins into an eukaryotic chromosome
What is the liquid in the nucleus called?
nucleoplasm
Chromatin
A mix of dna and proteins found in the nucleus
True or false: ribosomes can be found on the outer surface of the nuclear envelope
True
True or false: there is a space between outer and inner nuclear membrane
True
Describe the structure of the nuclear pore complex
Basket like- control and regulate passage